Carton forming machine



July 27, 1965 M. A. TERRY CARTON FORMING MACHINE 15 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledNOV. 19, 1962 INVENTOR. MOPPIS A. TEPPV July 27, 1965 M. A. TERRY CARTONFORMING MACHINE Filed Nov. 19. 1962 15 Sheets-Sheet 3 I "J. 1.. ZIB 23!T 11222 l in . r /0 we L/\ P222 0 INVENTOR. MOEQ/S A. TEEB? A TI'OENEVS/mww w July 27, 1965 M, A, TERRY 3,196,760

CARTON FORMING MACHINE Filed Nov. 19, 1962 15 sheet -sheet 4 INVENTOR.MOPPIS A. TEE'PV A TTOPNEVS July 27, 1965 M. A. TERRY CARTON FORMINGMACHINE 15 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed NOV. 19, 1962 R o WW5 MW g wi a. m W A AP P O M w m0 PN W NEW July 27, 1965 M. A. TERRY 3,1 ,7

CARTON FORMING MACHINE Filed Nov. 19, 1962 15 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR.MOP/P/S A TEPPH ZMMM WM ATTOPNEVS July 27, 1965 M. A. TERRY 3,195,760

CARTON FORMING MACHINE Filed Nov. 19, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTOR.MORE/5 A. TEPPV A TTOPN E VS July 27, 1965 M. A. TERRY CARTON FORMINGMACHINE 15 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Nov. 19, 1962 INVENTOR. MORE/5 A. TBPFVBY wwwm WM A 7 7 OEN; V5

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CARTON FORMING MACHINE Filed Nov. 19, 1962 15 Sheets-Sheet 9 M: J I

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INVENTOR. MOP/9A5 ,4. TEPPV July 27, 1965. M. A. TERRY 3,196,760

CARTON FORMING MACHINE 15 Sheets-Sheet 11 Filed NOV. 19, 1962 LOAD|NGPDESSUEE BREAK N6 TIMER Fjo MOPP/S kww t/7% ATTOPNEHS' July 27, 1965Filed Nov. 19, 1962 yl 1 I (I I 2? i M lj uw m P i l i i W M5 M :31113111;

Q i l WM I! {Wm H M W WW M M. A. TERRY CARTON FORMING MACHINE 15Sheets-Sheet l2 MOPPAS INVENTOR. A. TEPPV ATTOPNEVS July 27, 1965 v M.A. TERRY 3,196,760

CARTON FORMING MACHINE Filed Nov. 19, 1962 15 Sheets-Sheet l4 AIR SUPPLYV VAC SUPPLY I L E783 76' PICK-UP CYL WATER OUT 801 PRESS 8 10 W WATER mFOLDING FORKS INVENTOR. MORE/S 4. TEBBV memww A TTOB/VEVS July 27, 1965Filed Nov. 19., 1962 M. A. TERRY CARTON FORMING MACHINE 15 Sheets-Sheetl5 INVENTOR.

MOPP/S A. 75294 5. a/Mmfimw/ ATTOPN V3 United States Patent 3,196,76tlCARTUN FURMHNG MAUI-ENE Morris A. Terry, Portage Township, KalamazooCounty, Mich, assignor, by mesne assignments, to Prc-G-EorrnCorporation, Warsaw, Ind, a corporation of Indiana Eiied Nov. 19, 1952,Ser. No. 238,4tll 18 Claims. (Cl. 93-44.I)

This application is a continuation-in-part of my patent applicationSerial No. 79,880, filed December 30, 1960, and entitled Carton FormingMachine, now Patent No. 3,064,542, issued on November 20, 1962.

This invention relates in general to a carton forming machine and, moreparticularly, to a type thereof which is capable of receiving a plasticcoated, substantially tubular carton blank. and forming an end wall onone end of said tubular blank.

The advantages of and need for a relatively small machine for formingthe bottom end wall in a plastic coated, tubular carton blank have beendiscussed in detail in my above-mentioned patent application Serial No.79,880. "In a continuing effort to improve upon the construction andperformance of machines for prcforming milk cartons, especially in thesmall dairy, it was found that a semiautomatic arrangement was oftendesirable in order to minimize the cost of the machine, the cost ofraintenance and the space occupied by the machine. That is, many of thesmall dairies do not use enough milk cartons in a single day to Warrantthe investment and space require for a fully automatic preformingmachine. By using a semiautomatic construction, it is practicable toreduce the number of stations through which the car-ton blank must movewhile the bottom wall is being formed therein. Accordingly, the size andcost of the machine are reduced proportionately.

It was also found that many of the small dairies would prefer tocommence their own preforming operations on a very modest basis, eventhough cost was no object, in order to acquire prefor-nring experiencein a gradual manner and wi hout upsetting the normal routine of thedairy. However, it was indicated that some of these dairies would desirea fully automatic machine after such experience had been acquired. Thus,the .need has been present for a semiautomatic machine of modest costand capacity, which is adapted for use by a small dairy, which can beused efiiciently while obtaining preforming experience in a limitedoperation, and which can be converted with a minimum of cost into asubstantially fully automatic machine when the need for same arises.

It was also found that many dairies desire an automatic preformingmachine which is capable of prebreaking the upper end panels on the milkcarton, even though they use a relatively small number of milk cartons.This is primarily due to the fact that they wish to be able to feed thepreformed cartons directly from the preforrning machine to an automaticmachine for filling and sealing the cartons. Such a machine is the Seal-O-Matic Senior manufactured by Liquid Package Equipmeat Corporation ofWoodstock, Illinois.

Accordingly, a primary object of this invention has been the provisionof a semiautomatic and compact machine for receiving plastic coated,tubular carton blanks having end panels, and for automatically formingfrom said end panels an end wall which is held in a liquid-tightcondition by the thermoplastic after heat and pressure are appliedthereto by said machine.

A further object of this invention has been the provision of arelatively small machine, as aforesaid, for preforrning a plurality ofmilk cartons from tubular and plastic coated carton blanks in rapidsuccession so that said cartons can be stored in their space saving,flattened ice condition and quickly preformed .in a minimum of space andtime for immediate use.

A further object or" this invention has been the provision of .apreforming machine, as aforesaid, which can be efiiciently operated by aminimum of personnel, which requires a minimum of cost for operation,which is easy to maintain and keep clean, and which completely satistiesthe long standing need for a compact prefiorming machine of this type.

A further object of this invention has been the provision of apreform-lug machine, as aforesaid, which can be adapted forsubstantially fully automatic operation to erect a flattened cartonblank and to form an end wall on the erected carton blank, such fullyautomatic operation being achieved by adding components to the basic,semiautomatic machine, either initially or as they are needed.

A further object of this invention has been the provision of apreforming machine, as aforesaid, which can be arranged by addingcomponents to the basic assembly, to prebreak the top end panels on thepreformed carton blank, either automatically or semiautomatically, sothat said cartons can be transferred at once to a machine for fillingand sealing the cartons.

Other objects and purposes of this invention will become apparent topersons familiar with this type of equipment upon reading the followingspecification and examining the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a carton forming machine embodying theinvention.

FZGURE 2 is a fragmentary, front elevational view of said machine withthe hood removed from the top of the machine.

FIG-UKE 3 is a broken top plan View of said machine with the hoodremoved therefrom.

4 is a sectional view substantially as taken along the line IV-IV inFIGURE 2.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragment of the portion of said machineappearing in FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken along the line VIVI in FIGURE 3 withthe heating member in a different position of operation.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragment of the pressure machanism appearing inFIGURE 2.

FlGURE 8 is a bottom view of the pressure head appearing in FIGURE 7.

FIGURE 9 is a sectional view taken along the line IX-IX in FIGURE 8 androtated degrees clockwise.

FIGURE 10 is an enlarged sectional view substantially as taken along theline X-X in FIGURE 3 and rotated 90 degrees clockwise.

FIGURE 11 is an enlarged sectional view substantially as taken along theline X IXI in FIGURE 3.

[FIGURE 12 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line XII-XII inFIGURE 3 and rotated 90' degrees counterclockwise.

FIGURE 13 is a sectional view substantially as taken along the lineXIIIXIII in FIGURE 12.

FIGURE 14 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line XIV-XIV inFIGURE 13.

FIGURE 15 is a bottom view of the mechanism for sup-porting and rotatingthe mandrel table as such mechanism appears from the cutting line XVXVin FIG- URE 6.

FIGURE 16 is a broken, enlarged sectional view substantially as takenalong the line XVI-XVI in FIG- URE 6 and disclosing a modified structurefor collapsing the bottom end panels on relatively large cartons.

FIGURE 17 is an enlarged, broken sectional view taken along the lineXVIIXVII in FIGURE 16.

FIGURE 18 is an enlarged fragment of FIGURE 17 showing parts thereof indifferent posit-ions of operation.

FIGURE 19 is a sectional view taken along the line XIXXIX in FIGURE 18.

FIGURE 20 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line XXXX inFIGURE 17.

FIGURE 21 is a broken, top plan view of a modified mandrel table havingplurality of modified mandrels thereon.

FIGURE 22 is a perspective view of a fragment of FIGURE 1 illustratingautomatic structure for receiving, one at a time, cartons having bottomwalls formed therein and for advancing said cartons through mechanismfor breaking the top panels of said cartons.

FIGURE 23 is a side elevational view of the automatic structureappearing in FIGURE 22.

FIGURE 24 is a fragment of FIGURE 23 showing part thereof in a differentposition of operation.

FIGURE 25 is a fragment of FIGURE 23 showing part thereof in a differentposition of operation.

FIGURE 26 is a broken sectional view substantially as taken along lineXXVI-XXVI in FIGURE 23 and rotated 90 degrees clockwise.

FIGURE 27 is a sectional view substantially as taken along the lineXXVII-XXVII in FIGURE 26 with part thereof in a different position ofoperation.

FIGURE 28 is a broken fragment of the disclosure appearing in FIGURE 27.

' FIGURE 29 is a front perspective view of a modified machine embodyingthe invention.

FIGURE 30 is a sectional view substantially as taken along the lineXXXXXX in FIGURE 29.

FIGURE 31 is a broken sectional view taken along the line XXXI-XXXI inFIGURE 29.

FIGURE 32 is a sectional view taken along the line XXXII-XXXII in FIGURE29.

FIGURE 33 is a sectional view taken along the line XXXIII-XXXIII inFIGURE 32 with part thereof in a different position of operation.

FIGURE 34 is an enlarged, broken fragment of FI URE 32 with part thereofin a different position of operation.

FIGURE 35 is a broken sectional view taken along the lines XXXV-XXXV inFIGURE 34.

FIGURE 36 is a broken sectional view taken along the line XXXVIXXXVI inFIGURE 33.

FIGURE 37 is a fragment of the preforming machine as appearing in FIGURE30 when viewed from the cutting line XXXVIIXXXVII therein.

FIGURE 38 is a sectional view taken along the line XXXVIII-XXXVIII inFIGURE 37.

FIGURE 39 is a sectional view substantially as taken along the lineXXXIXXXXIX in FIGURE 30, but showing an alternate discharge structure.

FIGURE 40 is a sectional view taken along the line XL-XL in FIGURE 39.

FIGURE 41 is a diagrammatic illustration of the pressure fluid systemand the electrical circuitry for the preforming machine in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 42 discloses the major portion of a front perspective view of amachine embodying the invention and disclosing an alternate, automatedtop breaker and conveyor mechanism therefor.

FIGURE 43 is a wiring diagram for the machine disclosed in FIGURE 42.

FIGURE 44 is a diagram of the pressure fluid system for the machine ofFIGURE 42.

FIGURE 45 is a sectional view substantially as taken along the lineXLVXLV in FIGURE 42 and disclosing a top plan view of the top breakerconveyor mechanism.

FIGURE 46 is a sectional view taken along the line XLVI--XLVI in FIGURE45.

FIGURE 47 is a sectional view taken along the line LVIIXLVII in FIGURE45.

FIGURE 48 is a fragment of FIGURE 45 with parts thereof in differentpositions of operation.

FIGURE 49 is a sectional view taken along the line XLIXXLIX in FIGURE46.

FIGURE 50 is a bottom view of the top breaking head shown in FIGURE 49.

FIGURE 51 is a broken, side elevational view of an alternate mandrelconstruction.

FIGURE 52 is a sectional view taken along the line LIILII in FIGURE 51.

FIGURE 53 is a sectional view taken along the line LIII--LIII in FIGURE51.

For convenience in reference, the terms upper, lower and words ofsimilar import will have reference to the preforming machine and partsthereof as appearing in FIGURES 1 and 2. The term front will havereference to the side of the machine shown in FIGURE 2. The terms inner,outer and derivatives thereof will have reference to the geometriccenter of the preforming machine and to parts thereof when they arebeing considered apart from the remainder of the machine.

General description The objects and purposes of the invention, includingthose set forth above, have been met by providing a portable preformingmachine for receiving tubular carton blanks which are plastic coated andwhich have integral closure panels at both ends of the tube. A pluralityof mandrels are supported within the machine by a carrier, and drivemechanism moves the carrier so that the mandrels are advancedintermittently and unidirectionally along a closed path, such as acircle.

In one preferred embodiment, the flat carton blank is manually placed ina loading position directly above the path of movement of the mandrelsand, at the same time, said carton blank is manually erected into itstubular form. Each mandrel is shaped so that it can slidably and snuglyreceive an erected carton blank, which is moved downwardly onto anupright mandrel disposed in the loading station. Additional stations aredisposed in the machine preferably at uniform intervals along the pathof movement of the mandrels and in axial alignment with said mandrels.

The loading station, which is the first station, includes a device formoving the carton blank downwardly onto a mandrel in the cartonreceiving station and, at the same time, breaking the bottom end panelsat the upper end of the erected carton. The second station includes aheating mechanism for softening the thermoplastic coating on the upperbottom end panels. The third station includes guide means for moving theupper end panels downwardly toward horizontal positions and a pressuremember for pressing the panels firmly against the upper end of themandrel to produce a liquid-tight bottom wall. A fourth station isreserved for removing the preformed cartons either manually orautomatically from their mandrels.

A modified machine includes automatic mechanisms for erecting the cartonblanks and feeding them from a magazine into the carton loadingposition, and for removing the preformed cartons from the mandrels inthe fourth station. The modified machine may include mechanism forprebreaking the panels at the other (top) ends of the cartons and foradvancing such cartons from the preforming machine to a filling andsealing machine.

Detailed construction The preforming machine It (FIGURES 1, 2 and 3),which has been selected to illustrate a preferred embodiment of theinvention, is comprised of a frame structure 11 in which a carrierassembly 12 is supported for rotation around a substantially verticalaxis. The carrier assembly includes a plurality of upright mandrels 17,which are arranged in a circle around said vertical axis. Drivemechanism 13 (FIGURE 2) is supported upon the frame structure 11 and isconnected to the carrier assembly 12 for effecting step-by-step,unidirectional movement thereof.

Ell

A carton erecting mechanism 16 (FIGURE 1) is mounted upon the framestructure 11 directly above a loading station L in the circular pathdefined by the movement of the mandrels 1'7. The erecting mechanism isarranged for receiving tubular carton blank 13 and holding it in itsfully erected and rectangular shape directly above said loading station.Prebrealting and loading mechanism 19 is supported upon the framestructure 11 directly above and adjacent the loading station L forengaging an erected carton blank 1% and moving it downwardly onto amandrel 17 in the loading position L whil at the same time, bending thepanels 21 at the upper end of the erected carton blank 18 along the foldlineswhich separate the panels from the side walls of the preformedcarton 22 (FIGURE 4).

Examples of cartons which may be handled in this type of machine aredisclosed in patent applications Serial Nos. 111,028, filed May 18,1961, now Patent No. 3, 118,586; 149,964, filed October 23, 1961; and228,118, filed Octoher 3, 1962. in this embodiment, the end panels 21form the bottom wall on a preformed carton 22 (FEGURE 4).

A heating mechanism 23 (FIGURES 2, 6 and 17) is mounted upon the framestructure 11. near the heating station it FELGURE 3) for softening thethermoplastic coating on the end panels of an erected carton blank RS RE4) supported on a mandrel 117 located in the eating station H. Apressure mechanism 24 is located at, and primarily above, the pressurestation P for the purpose of pressing the bent and heated end panels 211against the upper end of the mandrel 17, upon which they are supported,to form the bottom wall on the carton Said end panels 21 are heldtogether by the thermoplastic coating thereon which is rendered adhesiveby the heat a, nlied to said panels while they are in the heatingstation H.

The ormed cartons (FEGURE 4-) are manually remove; from the mandrel 17,in this particular embodiment, when said inandrels are disposed in thedischarge station I). Thereafter, if desired, said preformed cartons canbe manually moved through the two stages of the top breaking mechanismThe various, above-mentioned mechanisms are preferably operated bypressure fluid actuated devioes, which are in turn controlled by anelectrical circuit, such as that shown in FIGURE 41. For convenience ofdisclosure, the description of the machine ill will follow generally theorder in which the principal components thereof have been set forth inthe foregoing paragraphs.

Frame structure stantially horizontal platform 32 located approximatelyi! D sheet 33, the shirt 3%, said 3 frame structure 11 are preferablyfabricated from metal and elements.

frame structure 11 includes a plurality of upright ly s=curetl at theirlower ends to the platform 32 and proicct upwardly therefromsubstantially above the upper ends of the mandrels 1.7. An upperplatform 37 is mounted upon the upper ends of upright elements 3% and ahood 38 is removably sup;

on the pper ends the u 'ght elements 3 for the purpose of coveringstructure which is supported upon the upper platform r and which isdiscussed hereinafter. The cleneuts are enclosed by side sheets 41 and4,2 to form the left and right, vertical columns 3? and dd,respectively.

Carrier assembly The carrier assembly includes a circular, substantiallyhorizontal carrier disk which is supported upon the turn table 46 of theindexing device 4'7, which is in turn supported upon the platform 32.The indexing device or table is part of the drive mechanism 13 and,therefore, will be discussed hereinafter.

In this particular embodiment (FIGURE 4), there are eight mandrels 17secured at uniform intervals around and upon the carrier disk 45,preferably at uniform radial distances from rotational axis of said disk45. The four mandrels 17a are of appropriate size and shape to receive,snugly but slidably, an erected carton blank 18 of the conventionalquart side. The four mandrels 17/) are alternated with the mandrels 17aand they are of the proper size and shape to receive an erected cartonof the half-gallon size. If follows that mandrels of different sizes andshapes, including mandrels suited to receive gallon cartons, can besupported upon the carrier disk 45 in a similar manner.

There are four stations (FIGURE 3), identified as L, H, P and D, intoand out of which each mandrel is movable in a predetermined sequence.That is, where quart-size cartons are being preformed, each of themandrels 1% will be located at one of said four stations, whenever thecarrier disk 45 is at rest during the normal operation of the machine.By appropriate adjustment of the rotational position of the carrier disk45 with respect to upon the turn table 46, the four quart-size mandrels7a are replaced in said stations by the four half-gallon inandrels 17b.Thereafter, each movement of the carrier disk 453 by the drive mechanism13 will move the mandrels 1% from one station to the next.

Each mandrel 17 (FlGURE-S 4 and 6) may be fabricated in a manner and ofmaterials generally similar to those disclosed in said patentapplication Serial No. 79,880. More specifically, each mandrel 17 issubstantially rectangular in horizontal cross section and is verticallyelongated. Each mandrel has a lengthwise recess 45 in the outer surfaceof each side Wall thereof to minim ze frictional engagement between saidmandrels and the erected carton blanks 18 disposed thereon. Furthermore,said recess 58 prevents the occurrence of a vacuum between the bottomwall of a preformed carton and the upper end of the mandrel when thepreformed carton is removed therefrom.

Each mandrel 17 (FIGURE 6) has an upper cooling chamber 51 and a lowercollection chamber 52 which are connected by a central passageway 53. Avertical passageway 54 is provided in the side wall 5d of each mandrel1? between the upper chamber 51 and a point adjacent the lower end ofsaid mandrel where said passageway opens to atmosphere. The upperchamber 51. is relatively small by comparison with the lower chamber 512and the upper end of the passageway $3 may be provided with an up-Wardly extending projection 57 so that coolant disposed within the upperchamber 51 must rise to a predeterm level before it can move downwardlythrough the passageway 53 into the lower chamber 52 and thence outthrough the passageway which extends dov. nwartlly from the lowerchamber 52 through the disk 45. Coo ant can be introduced into the lowerend of the passageway 54, circulated through the mandrel 1'7 andcollected from the lower end of the passageway 58 by means similar tothose disclosed in said patent application Serial No. 79,380.

Drive mechanism The drive echanism 13 (FIGURES 2, 6 and 15) includes theindexing device 4'"! which, in this particular embodiment, may be aJackson index Table, manufactured by the Jackson Fluid Power Company,Detroit, Michigan. Briefly, the indexins device or table 47 is comprisedof a casing 61. having a sidewarclly extending input shaft (FIGURES 6and 15) and an upwardly extending output shaft 63. The input shaft isconnected by the pulleys 54*, es and the belt 67 to a motor at; which issecured to the frame structure 11. The input shaft 62 and output shaft63 are interconnected by appropriate linkage, which is partially shownin FIGURES 6 and 15, whereby continuous rotation of the input shaft 62is converted into intermittent rotation of the output shaft 63, hence ofthe turntable 46 secured thereo.

A connecting mechanism 69 (FIGURES 2 and 6) is secured upon theturntable 46 and adjustably connected to the carrier disk 45 for thepurpose of rotating the disk 45 through a selected angle, such as 45degrees, around its rotational axis with respect to the turntable 46 inorder to place the mandrels 171') in the positions occupied by themandrels 17a when such becomes desirable. This adjustment will normallybe made when it becomes desirable to use the mandrels which are disposedbetween the stations L, H, P and D.

More specifically, the connecting mechanism 69 includes a spacing disk72 (FIGURES 2 and 6) which is concentrically secured by means of bolts'73 upon the upper surface of the turntable 46. Said disk '72 has acentrally disposed, upwardly projecting shaft 74 which is threaded atits upward end and is concentric with the output shaft 63. The shaft 74extends upwardly through a concentric opening '75 in the carrier disk 45for engagement by a nut '76. A locating pin 77 projects upwardly fromthe upper surface of the spacing disk 72 for reception into any one ofseveral pin openings 78 in the lower surface of the carrier disk 45.Said openings 78 are located at 45 degree intervals along a circu'iarline concentric with the central axis of said disk 45 The 45 degreeintervals are characteristic of this particular carrier assembly whichhas eight mandrels located at uniform intervals along a circleconcentric with said carrier disk. Accordingly, this angularrelationship would probably be different where the number of mandrels isdifferent.

A table actuated switch 79 (FIGURES 2 and 41), is supported upon theleft side of the casing 61 (FIGURE 2) so that its operator St) isengageable by each of the four radially projecting and uniformaly spacedswitch actuators 81 for the purpose of closing the switch 79.

An anvil 82 is adjustably mounted upon a bracket 83 which is in turnsupported upon the left side of the right column 40, adjacent andbeneath the rightward edge of the carrier disk 45. Said anvil 82 isslidably engaged by the lower surface of the carrier disk 45 in a regiondirectly below the pressure station P. Accordingly, the anvil 82 isarranged to counteract the downward urging of the carrier disk 45 by thepressure mechanism 24 when same is operated.

Erecting mechanism The mechanism 16 (FIGURES 2, 3, 4, 5, 10 and 11) forerecting carton blanks 18 from their flat condition into their tubularcondition is mounted upon and partially within the left column 39 of theframe structure 11 so that it extends directly over the loading stationL. The mechanism 16, as particularly shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, includesthree upright, substantially parallel corner members 86, 87 and 88 whichare arranged to define a rectangle substantially identical with thecross-sectional shape of the carton 22 which is being preformed on themandrel 17. The front corner member 86 is adjustably mounted upon theupper platform 37 by means of the bracket 89 for movement toward andaway from the center of said rectangle. The corner members 87 and 88 areinterconnected (FIGURE 11) by braces 92, and these combined parts areremovably supported upon the platform 37 by means of a bracket 93(FIGURE 10). Thus, the corner unit 94, including the corner members 87and 83, can be replaced by another corner unit in which the cornermembers 87 and 88 are at a different distance from each other for thepurpose of adapting the erecting mechanism 16 to a different cartonsize.

The erecting mechanism 16 (FIGURES 4, and has an associated safetydevice 96 to protect the hand 97 of the operator when he is inserting acarton blank into the erecting mechanism 16. The safety device 96includes a switch 93 mounted on the right front corner of the leftcolumn 39 by means of the bracket 99. A manually operable switchoperator 102 is hingedly supported upon the bracket 99 for movementaround a substantially vertical axis. Said switch operator 102 includesa curved plate 103 which extends inwardly to the leftward edge of therectangle defined by the erecting mechanism 16, hence adjacent the edgeof a carton blank disposed within said erecting mechanism. The switchoperator 192 has a finger 164 which extends away from the hinge pin 166in the opposite direction from the plate 103 for engagement with theplunger 167 on said switch 93. A spring 108 urges the switch operator102 into its FIGURE 4 position where the plunger 197 is depressed andthe switch 98 is closed. The switch operator 162 is moved into itsFIGURE 5 position by the operators hand 97, thereby opening the switch93 when a carton blank is placed within the erecting mechanism 16.

Prebreaking and loading mechanism The loading mechanism 19 (FIGURES 2,3, 10 and 11), which moves an erected carton from the erecting mechanism16 onto a mandrel 17 disposed in the loading station L, includes a panelbreaking or bending device 111 for bending the panels 21 at the upperend of the erected carton blank 18 after said device has moved thecarton blank 18 onto a mandrel in said loading station. Morespecifically, the loading mechanism 19 includes a pressure fiuidactuated cylinder 112 (FIGURE 11) which is mounted upon the framestructure 11 within the left column 39 in an upright position. Thepiston rod 113 of the cylinder 112 extends upwardly through a horizontalguide plate 114 secured to the upper end of said cylinder 112. The upperend of the piston rod 113 is rigidly secured to one end of a loading arm116 which extends from the piston rod 113 rightwardly over and above theloading station L. A pair of guide rods 117 and 118 are rigidly securedto the loading arm 116 on opposite sides of and parallel with the pistonrod 113 and said rods slidably extend through appropriate openings inthe guide plate 114 for bracing and guiding the upward and downwardmovement of the piston rod 113. The loading arm 116 is movable throughan opening 119 in the upper platform 37. The breaking device 111includes a pair of spaced and downwardly diverging plates 122 and 123which are se cured to a support bar 124, which in turn is secured by thebolts 126 to the lower side of the arm 116 directly above the loadingstation L. The plates 122 and 123 may be arranged so that their loweredges move downwardly along and closely adjacent the inner surfaces ofthe corner members 86, 87 and 88 for the purpose of engaging the upperedges of the upper panels 21 on an erected carton blank 18 held withinthe erecting mechanism 16. The plates 122 and 123 are sloped so thatthey effect the desired amount of bending of the panels 21 with respectto the remainder of the carton blank 18.

The bar 124 (FIGURE 11) and loading arm 116 have aligned openings 127and 127a, respectively, in which a rod 128 is vertically reciprocablydisposed. A guide rod 129 is rigidly secured at its lower end to theloading arm 116 so that it extends upwardly adjacent to and parallelwith the rod 128. A guide element 132 is rigidly secured to the rod 128and has an opening 133 through which the guide rod 129 is slidablyreceived. A guide element 134 is rigidly secured to the upper end of theguide rod 129 and has an opening 136 through which the rod 128 isslidably received. A spiral spring 137 is loosely sleeved upon the rod123 between the guide elements 132 and 134 where said spring iscontinuously held, at least slightly, under compression. Accordingly,upward movement of the rod 128 with respect to the loading arm 116 isresiliently opposed by the spiral spring 137.

A pair of downwardly diverging, breaking elements 138

1. IN A MACHINE FOR RECEIVING AN ERECTED TUBULAR CARTON BLANK AND FORFORMING AN END WALL ON THE ERECTED TUBULAR CARTON BLANK FROM CLOSUREPANEL MEANS AT ONE END THEREOF, THE COMBINATION COMPRISING: A FRAMESTRUCTURE; CARRIER MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME STRUCTURE FORSUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT AROUND A SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL AXIS;A PLURALITY OF ELONGATED MANDRELS HAVING RECTANGULAR CROSS SECTIONS,THERE BEING AT LEAST TWO GROUPS OF MANDRELS OF DIFFERENT SIZES, THEMANDRELS OF ONE SIZE BEING CONNECTED TO AND EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM SAIDCARRIER MEANS AT UNIFORM INTERVALS AROUND SAID VERTICAL AXIS ANDEXTENDING PARALLEL WITH SAID VERTICAL AXIS FOR MOVEMENT BY SAID CARRIERMEANS ALONG A CLOSED, SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL PATH AROUND SAID VERTICALAXIS, AN ERECTED CARTION BLANK BEING SNUGLY AND SLIDABLY RECEIVABLE ONTOEACH MANDREL OF SAID ONE SIZE; DRIVE MEANS OPERABLY ASSOCIATED WITH SAIDCARRIER MEANS FOR EFFECTING STEP-BY-STEP MOVEMENT OF SAID CARRIER MEANSALONG SAID PATH, WHEREBY EACH OF THE MANDRELS OF ONE GROUP IS MOVED, ONEAT A TIME, INTO AND OUT OF THE CARTON-RECEIVING POSITION IN SAID PATH;MECHANISM MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME STRUCTURE ALONG SAID PATH FORSEQUENTIALLY PERFORMING OPERATIONS UPON THE CLOSURE PANEL MEANS, WHEREBYTHE END WALL IS FORMED ON EACH ERECTED CARTON BLANK WHILE IT IS ON AMANDREL OF SAID ONE SIZE; MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID CARRIER MEANS FORMOVING SAID CARRIER MEANS A SELECTED AMOUNT AROUND SAID VERTICAL AXIS,WHEREBY THE MANDRELS OF ONE GROUP ARE MOVED INTO THE POSITIONS OCCUPIEDBY THE MANDRELS OF THE OTHER GROUP; MEANS FOR EFFECTING THE OPERATION OFSAID DRIVE MEANS AND SAID MECHANISM ON SAID FRAME STRUCTURE.